Radio Amateur Quiz Canadian License

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Question B-003-019-007

If your third-floor amateur station has a ground wire running 10 metres (33 feet) down to a ground rod, why might you get an RF burn if you touch the front panel of your HF transceiver?

Correct Answer

Because the ground wire has significant reactance and acts more like an antenna than an RF ground connection

Explanation

At radio frequencies (especially HF), a long wire has significant inductance and impedance. It becomes ineffective as an RF ground, allowing the chassis voltage to 'float' at high RF potentials relative to true ground.

Warning: Generated by AI